FilOil: Defending NCAA champs San Beda put the claws to Saint Benilde

(Updated 1:54pm) The San Beda Red Lions put on a defensive clinic in the third quarter to shut down the College of Saint Benilde Blazers, 74-58, in the FilOil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup elimination round on Monday at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

"We adjusted ourselves to play defense in the second half and we made crucial stops," said Red Lions head coach Boyet Fernandez. "We tried to attack the post with Ola [Adeogun] there inside, and we created opportunities for our shooters outside."

Fernandez gave credit to the Blazers, whom he said are going to be tough opponents in the upcoming NCAA season. Center Ola Adeogun agreed and said, "Everybody wants to prove something and beat the defending champions. It's harder to keep it. We just have to play our game and come in with a defensive mindset every game."

Francis Abarcar led all scorers with 22 points, while Baser Amer added 15 points and six rebounds. Ryusei Koga and Adeogun scattered 10 points apiece and combined for 18 boards.

The Red Lions (5-2) secured at least a third seed in Group A play since the second-seeded Arellano Chiefs (6-2) whipped them in overtime, 67-66, on May 22. The Adamson Falcons (4-2) will hold at least a fourth seed since they hold the tiebreaker over the FEU Tamaraws (3-4) and as well as the Blazers (4-4).

Regardless of the Adamson-Perpetual Help Altas duel on Wednesday though, the Falcons can climb to third if they trip San Beda on the final elimination round gameday on June 1.

Fernandez said he looked forward to playing the Falcons and was confident that Adeogun would be an adequate adversary against Adamson's new center, Ingrid Sewa.

The first half between both teams was a grind-it-out affair marked by a combined eight fast break points and 33 attempted free throws. Francis Abarcar continued to shine for the Red Lions as of late, coming off the bench for 16 points as San Beda led, 39-38.

Meanwhile Mark Romero's 15 points kept the Blazers close, as he made 8-of-11 free throws despite shooting just 3-of-7 from the field up to that point.


In the third quarter, the Blazers were limited to perimeter attempts that fell off the mark. Meanwhile Baser Amer woke the Red Lions from their sluggish start, scoring six among 10 unanswered points for San Beda, 49-38.

CSB netted their first points in the quarter courtesy of RJ Agramino charities on a fast break attempt. But the Blazers' efforts were neutralized by Ola Adeogun's efforts on the other end. Paolo Taha though managed to answer an and-one floater by Abarcar with 25 seconds to play as they trailed, 55-44, after three quarters.

San Beda ditched CSB in the fourth as their shooting game made the Blazers pay for their defensive lapses. Rome Dela Rosa and Ryusei Koga connected from midrange, while Anthony Semerad and Abarcar hit from deep to erect a 67-48 lead.

WIth just over four minutes to play, the Blazers flipped a switch and started converting at the rim as JR Ongteco and Jonathan Grey registered and-ones down low to underpin a 10-0 run, capped by a Romeo breakaway lay-up, to bring the deficit to nine points.

However, the comeback was over as soon as it began, as CSB missed their next five shots in the final two minutes, allowing the Red Lions to string seven unanswered to finish the game.

The Red Lions shot 25-of-61 field goals (41 percent) for the game while CSB was held to just 19-of-62 (31 percent). San Beda also posted a 48-36 rebounding advantage, including 15-12 offensive, to contribute to a 13-2 second-chance points tally.

Mark Romero led the Blazers with 19 points, while JR Ongteco posted 10 points and and nine rebounds. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

SBC 74: Abarcar 22, Amer 15, Koga 10, Adeogun 10, D. Semerad 6, Dela Rosa 6, A. Semerad 3, Pascual 2, Sara 2, Mendoza 0, Bonsubre 0

CSB 58: Romero 19, Ongteco 10, Sinco 8, Grey 5, Agramino 5, Taha 4, Saavedra 3, Jonson 2, Bartolo 1, Carlos 1, Garcia 0

Quarter scoring: 19-19, 39-38, 55-44, 74-58